In preparation for the annual Brent Yard Sale on Saturday, May 12 Brent is hosting a virtual yard sale at www.brentstore.org, be sure to check out all the great products for sale.  Also, have some higher value items to sell?  Consider posting them at www.BrentYardSale.com.

New minutes posted from March LSAT meetings.

It is hard to believe that we are well into the fourth and final quarter of the school year.  Brent had a fantastic March.  On March 27, Brent received a cabinet-level delegation fromChina and the Chinese Embassy. Madam Chen Zhili, the former head of China’s Ministry of Education and president of the All-China Women’s Federation , accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Yesui and many other senior officials arrived by motorcade.  After a tour of the school, the delegation observed Ms. Dinkes’ students in Ms. Wang’s Chinese and the students and Ms. Wang shined.  The delegation left impressed and charmed with our school.  Brent represented DCPS and public education in theUnited States very well.

Our second publishing party was another great success.  Persuasive essays, how to manuals, poems, fairy tales and personal narratives were displayed.  Students proudly shared their work with attendees and answered questions about the creative and editing process.  It was a wonderful night at Brent!

In March we also wrapped up our mission and vision meetings with all classes.  I met with parents from every grade and had very thoughtful discussions about the future of Brent.  Parents provided candid insights about what kind of elementary school experience they hope their children will have.  Parents also provided me with valuable suggestions on crafting a meaningful vision statement.  I will present the first draft of a new vision and mission at the May 9 PTA meeting.  There will be an opportunity for further input so stay tuned!

Brent has several not-to-be missed events coming up. Friday, April 27 is Brent’s annual International Night – a celebration of the diversity of the school.  Bring your favorite family dish to share.   Thursday, May 24 is our annual Invention Convention and Science Fair. Students have already started working on their projects.   Heather Schmidt is directing the June 5 (PS3-K) and June 7 (1-5) Spring Choral Concert.  And the 5^th grade graduation is on Wednesday, June 13.

As a reminder, this is field trip season at Brent. With the wonderful weather, teachers take advantage of the city’s incredible cultural and historical resources. Please remember to sign permission slips, pack lunches when necessary and ensure students are dressed appropriately.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at peter.young@dc.gov or at 202-698-3363.

Brent has completed the budget planning process for fiscal year 2013.  Please click here to view the budget. All questions and comments about Brent SY2013 budget should be directed to the principal, Peter Young at peter.young@dc.gov. 

Brent SY2013 Budget

Brent PTA Enrichment Programs for Spring 2012 opens March 17th at Noon. Enrollment will be on a first-come first-serve basis and spaces fill quickly! All programming is fully funded by enrollment fees, due at the time of application. Some scholarships are available.  View the catalog here.

At the Brent PTA meeting on March 14, 2012, Sara Ewbank, Brent Instructional Coach, along with Brent staff presented on the early childhood continuum, the early reading indicators, the reading leveling system, and the paced assessments.  The purpose of each measure was shared along with how the data is gathered and used, and ways parents can use the information generated from the assessments.  Here are the slides from that presentation.

The Brent event of the year is less than TWO weeks away so buy your tickets NOW!  In addition, class baskets are pretty fantastic this year.  Click here for a preview of the class baskets just waiting for your bids at the upcoming Spring Gala on Saturday, March 24th.

I am pleased to report that Brent had a fantastic February and we are all looking forward to Spring!

In February, our students honored the past and looked to the future through songs, readings and drama at Brent’s first Black History Month celebration.  Brent also welcomed Civil Rights icon Congressman John Lewis for a special assembly.  Congressman Lewis captivated students with a personal narrative of the rights movement as well as his role as an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.

Brent students continued to take advantage of Washington DC’s cultural and historic sites with trips to the KennedyCenter, Smithsonian Museums and Imagination Stage. Brent science teacher, Mr. Mangiaracina challenged students (along with teachers, staff and parents) with a “marshmallow” challenge.  Students using 20 pieces of dried spaghetti, one meter of string and one meter of tape competed to build the tallest structure.  Brent students proved difficult to beat.

As we move to Spring, we start the planning process for the upcoming school year (2012-2013).  The Local School Advisory Team met and approved next year’s school budget.  We are excited to launch a new high-functioning autism program and fund a math specialist position.  Over 1000 families applied for spots at Brent in the recent DCPS city-wide early childhood and out of boundary lottery. This great demand for Brent from all over the city is a testament to the hard work, commitment to excellence and dedication of our teachers, parents and students.

On March 22, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Brent will host its second publishing party of the year.  The Brent PTA Spring Gala, Taste of the Hill will be held on Saturday, March 24 from 6-10p.m. at St. Mark’s Church. I hope to see all families at these events.

As always, should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at school, 202-698-3363, or by e-mail, peter.young@dc.gov.

Happy New Year! December brought us many wonderful treats. First and foremost, the school was presented with an inspiring Holiday Show, that featured classes singing, individual students showing-off their musical talents, and a packed audience that demonstrated their dedication to Brent. Thanks goes out to Ms. Schmidt, our devoted and talented music teacher, as well as Ms. Berg, who assisted with some of the technical aspects of the show. Additionally, for our after-school friends, they enjoyed a festive sock-hop with music, treats, a huge moon-bounce, as well as a visit from Santa. Kudos to Ms. Neal and her staff for putting on such a wonderful and enjoyable event for the students.

In the classroom, Brent’s students continue to impress with respectful behavior, academic knowledge, and overall attitude. The interest in Brent grows, as the front office continues to be bombarded with calls of families asking to send their children to Brent. This is a direct reflection of our amazing staff, parents, and most importantly the students. As we enter 2012, I am reminded by the hard work ahead of our students, and the need for every family member to support their student as best able. Any and all support only enhances their learning experience.

Students and teachers are now busily working on their Museum Night projects. The event has been moved to Tuesday evening, January 31^st, from 6:30pm-7:30pm. We look forward to all family members present in order to interact with the students and learn about the many topics being displayed.

As we look ahead to the winter months, please dress your student appropriately. If the temperature is above 32 degrees, students will be outside for recess. If a child does not have the appropriate clothing, he or she may be kept indoors. Finally, continue to ensure that your child arrives on-time and ready to start a great day!

As always, should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at school, 202-698-3363, or by e-mail, peter.young@dc.gov.

2011 Bird Watch

The New Year’s Bird Count for Kids is this Saturday! We have a great day planned for everybody in the Brent community, and we hope you can join us. We are offering bird watching trips, arts and crafts and local birdwalks, as well as presentations and displays by local conservation organizations. Families of 1st-5th graders should arrive between 9:00 and 9:30 to get ready for their birdwalks, and families of PK-K students should arrive at 10:30 for bird arts, crafts and activities. All students will come together for lunch and a show of live birds of prey. Please pick up a permission form in the office and return them to school ASAP, although you can still register on site. Special thanks to Capital Community Properties and Jason Townsend for providing breakfast, lunch and hot chocolate to everyone free of charge!